Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-06-05
MEMORIAL SERVICES IN MIpDLEBuRY

WOrthlly observed in Mlddlebury this
year. Never before were the exercises
better or more fully attended, and Moth
ing occurred to mar the inpressiveness
of the ceremonies.
On Sunday afternoon large audience
gathered at the town hall to listen to a
memorial sermon by Rev. S. l.. b. Speare,
pastor of the Congregational church.
The stage had been canopied and draped
with flags; on either side the proscenum
opening were stands of arms. and on the
walls near them crossed swords. Music
was furnished by Il large choir made up
from those at the several churches. 1t
was under the leadership of Mr.. NJ. A.
Munroe, and Mrs. Miner presided at the
piano. The veterans, who were out in
force, occupied seats in the center aisle.
After hymn lS3. "1'he spacious firma-
ment on high" had been sung. the third
chapter of Daniel was read by Mr..
Speare. and Rev. Mr. Palmer. pastor of
the Baptist church. offered prayer, Hymn
9Gl, "Our God, our help in ages past"
was rendered. Mr.. Speare took as his
text the words found in Daniel ill.,. l6 and
"Shadrach. Meshach and Abed-nego
answered and said to the king. o Nebu-
chadnezzar, we are not careful to answer
thee in this matter. If it be so. our God
whom we serve is able to deliver us from
the burning fiery furnace. and he will de-
liver us out of thine hand. O king. But
if not, be it known unto thee. O king that
we will not serve thy gods, nor worship
the golden image which thou hast made"
! ne preacher began by telling the story
of Vermont soldier who from Libby
prison sent word to President Lincoln to
insist upon advantageous terms of ex-
changing prisoners. That was an in
stance of self-sacrfice for principle: and
we do well to pause once Il year and
dwell upon the deeds of those who died
for principle. In considering his topic
Mr.. Speare inquired. first. what do we
mean by principle: second, what do we
mean by self-sacrifice. and. third. why
are we so thrilled by instances of self
sacrifice. 1t was an eloquent and forci-
bic sermon, carrying home the lessons of
the hour, but the limits of our space per-
nit us to give but the framework of it.
The service closed with prayer by Mr..
Speare. the singing of hymn 5G3. "IIow
firm foundations" and the hcnediction.
MEMORIAL-DAY CEREMONIES.
On Monday the town was crowded
with people at an early hour. The pro-
House at 80 o'clock. and after the
delays incident to such gatherings,
was got under way. Senior Vice Com
mander j. III. Sargent of Russell Post
was the marshal. The Middlebury band
J. b. Cobb. leader. and NJ. A. Brooks.
drum maior-headed the procession. fol-
lowed by Mt. Calvary Commanderv.
Knights Templar. mounted. under COM
mand of Past Grand Commander Thad.
VI. Chapman as +. c.; Lake Dunmore
Lodge. |. o. of o. F.. under direction of
{. III. Severance a. marshal: Paramount
Engine Co.. commanded by Second As
sistant w. ID. Dewey: Camp Tracy Sons
of Veterans. Capt. j. NJ. Nash: Post
Needham. G. y. II. of East Middlebury,
ii. ID. Maynard, post commander: Post
W. Il. Russell. G.. \. r., c. II. William
son post commander; carriage with Rev.
MessrS. Speare, Palmer and Thompson:
carriages with daughters of veterans ap-
propriately dressed and bearing flowers;
citizens on foot and in carriages.
On reaching the cemetery the various
organizations formed a hollow square
about an evergreen mound inscribed. in
immortelles, 1.-The Unknown; and the
memorial service of the G.. \. K. was
read by Post Commander Williamson and
Post Chaplain j. W. Lovett, Rev. Mr..
Speare pronOuncing the benediction.
Then the daughters of veterans, directed
by Comrades G.. W. Pinney and NJ. W.
holland in the Protestant cemetery and
by Comrade p. Champagne in the Catho-
lie, decorated the graves of the soldiers
with handsome flowers.
The procession was reformed and re-
turned to the town hall. Here the veter
ans and members of other organizations
were assigned seats in the center of the
house The towns-people and visitors oc-
cupied all the rest of the space. The band
rendered medley of national airs: and
double male quartet, composed of MessrS
+. Richardson, VIM. Chadwick. j. \.
Fletcher, b. NJ. Coolidge, +. ID. Howe. j.
W. Lovett. NJ. \. Munroe and DR.. W. III.
Sheldon, sang the song "Speed our
republic, o Father on high" Mrs. Miner
presiding at the piano. Rev. Mr.. Speare
offered prayer: and the quartet sang
"Nearer, my God to thee" The speaker,
Rev. w. 5. Smart, ID. D., of Albany, \. Y,
was introduced by Post Commander Will
hanson and said, in substance